I Can Help You

I love this story. It perfectly illustrates (in a rather unorthodox way) why my organization is so great.

At one of the residences there is an elderly tenant whom I'll call Clara. She is the sweetest lady, but she does have some issues (who doesn't?). She has the usual assortment of ailments for a woman in her 80s such as arthritis and diabetes, but she also has some untreated mental health problems (she won't accept help). The staff is used to her quirks - like when she discusses her pregnancy. She's in her mid eighties. And for the past 20-some years she's been pregnant with 10 children (at the same time, I mean). She'll readily tell you how hard that is.

We smile and nod. After all, that would be hard work.

One day Clara came to see the nurse. "My feet hurt." The nurse took this seriously. After all, Clara is a diabetic. But after carefully examining Clara's feet, the nurse couldn't find anything wrong, other than dry skin.

"They're not fine," insisted Clara. "The mice come in my room at night. They nibble my feet and lick my toes."

The nurse wasn't quite sure how to respond to this, but the social worker was right there. "I can help you with that, Clara" she said. The SW left the room and came back with a small bottle of lotion. Affixed to the bottle was a label that read Mouse Cream.

"If you put this on your feet every night it will make them feel better and help keep the mice away. And I'll be sure to have maintenance double-check your room too."

Clara was so grateful. She thanked both of them profusely. The mice left her alone and her feet didn't hurt at all.

What was this magical mouse cream? The social worker took a bottle of lotion (most of the sites have a stash of donated toiletries to dole out to residents as needed) and made a special label for it. Clara got lotion for her feet and her worries assuaged.

So, when I'm having a bad day, I just give myself a little mouse cream, and I feel much better.

Ah, mouse cream. For what ails you.